Another 21 people have died and 410 Victorians have contracted coronavirus. The record number of deaths, tweeted by the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, takes the state toll to 267 and the national toll to 352. The ages and genders of those who have succumbed to the…

Another Sydney school, shopping centre, club and a restaurant on the NSW south coast have closed because of coronavirus. The NSW Department of Education said Parramatta Public School would be closed on Wednesday for cleaning after a student tested positive to COVID-19. The school will…

In this image from a video, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks at a news conference in Wellington, New Zealand Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020. (TVNZ via AP) New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appealed for calm from Aucklanders heading back into lockdown after a clutch of…

The operator of Sydney's Newmarch House aged care home admitted the facility was "overwhelmed" during the early stages of its deadly coronavirus outbreak. The royal commission into aged care will on Wednesday hold its final day of hearings into the sector's pandemic preparedness and…

Australian medical researchers have found an unlikely hero in a pair of alpacas they hope will help them develop a prevention and treatment for COVID-19. The nameless duo have been immunised with safe, non-infectious virus fragments, to trigger their rare immune response. The camelid…

A new coronavirus case has been detected in Tasmania. Premier Peter Gutwein announced this afternoon the man in his 60's, who was transferred from Melbourne to the North West Regional Hospital, had tested positive to COVID-19. He had been in Melbourne for medical treatment before being…

Australia's deputy chief medical officer has warned coronavirus deaths will continue to rise even if Victorian infections continue to stabilise. The nation has recorded its equal deadliest day of the pandemic on Tuesday with 19 deaths in Victoria. The state also had 331 new cases,…

Global coronavirus cases have pushed past 20 million, with the United States, Brazil and India accounting for more than half of all known infections. The disease has infected at least four times the average number of people struck down with severe influenza illnesses annually, according…

New research led by an ICU specialist working at the epicentre of the Victorian outbreak will examine how Australia's most seriously-ill COVID-19 cases recover from the virus long-term. While most patients fully recover, there is concern over the growing number of patients whose serious…

Confusion around care during a deadly coronavirus outbreak at Sydney aged home Newmarch House will be examined during royal commission hearings into the sector's pandemic response. The commission will probe evidence of a "stand-off" between federal and state authorities over the…

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Monday, May 11, 2020. (AAP Image/Daniel Pockett) Premier Daniel Andrews is set to be grilled over his government's handling of Victoria's second coronavirus wave at a parliamentary inquiry. Mr…

Queensland health authorities are waiting on coronavirus test results from two teens arrested after allegedly lying about being in COVID-19 hotspot Sydney. The girls, aged 15 and 16, arrived on a train from Sydney to Brisbane on Friday before the border closed. The pair then travelled to…

New equipment and an expansion at the Royal Hobart Hospital Molecular Laboratory is set to boost Tasmania's COVID-19 testing capacity. The lab will be able to process more than 1000 tests per day, after the Alinity-m and MagNa Pure 96 are installed this week. Head of Microbiology,…

A Spirit of Tasmania contractor based in Melbourne has tested positive for COVID-19. TT-Line says the result was returned on Wednesday but a review has found the person did not come into contact with passengers while infectious during their last 4 hour shift at Station Pier on Monday,…

Australia could face some food shortages due to Victoria's stage four coronavirus restrictions. Large swathes of manufacturing will have to close under the lockdown measures taking effect from Thursday and other plants will have to scale back production. Food production, including meat,…

A man claiming diplomatic status who returned to Queensland and was subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19 was a security contractor, reinforcing the state government's call for a review of travel exemptions. The man had permission to fly to the Sunshine Coast from NSW on Friday without…

A high school and primary school in south-western Sydney are closed due after three students were diagnosed with COVID-19. Bonnyrigg High School and Greenway Park Public School are both closed on Tuesday for deep cleaning and contact tracing and students have been advised to self-isolate.…

Melbourne's retail sector will take a hammering as the government confirms a widespread business shutdown to curt the coronavirus outbreak. The three-tiered system was announced on Monday as Victoria recorded 429 new cases of coronavirus and 13 more deaths. As the state started its…

STAGE FOUR BUSINESS CLOSURES AND CHANGES FOR MELBOURNE OPEN FOR ON-SITE WORK WITH COVID SAFE PLAN: * Supermarkets and grocery stores including liquor shops * Fuel retailers * Pharmacies * Post offices * Hardware, building an garden supplies for trade * Specialist stationery for business…

Tasmania's hard border restrictions are to remain in place until at least August 31st. Premier Peter Gutwein has announced the proposed travel bubble with South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory from this Friday will not go ahead as planned. "It simply isn't the time…